Kean University

Don Perkins has been the head coach of the Kean University women’s volleyball program since 2009. In 16 seasons at Kean, Perkins has won 307 games and qualified for the postseason in each of the last 13 years.

Coach Perkins Highlights

NCAA Tournament Appearances – 2017, 2018

NJAC Championships – 2017, 2018

ECAC Championships – 2013, Fall 2021, 2022

ECAC Tournament Appearances – 2012, 2013, 2015, Fall 2021, 2022

NJAC Tournament Appearances – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Second Winningest Coach in Program History

Recorded his 300th Career Coaching Victory in a 3-0 sweep of Hunter College on Oct. 12th, 2024.

Recorded his 200^th Career Coaching Victory in the 3-0 NJAC Championship victory over Montclair State on Nov. 3^rd, 2018

Recorded his 100^th Career Coaching Victory in the 3-0 victory over Baptist Bible (now Clarks Summit) on Sept. 20^th,
2014

NJAC Coach of the Year – 2017

Seven All-American Selections

15 All-Region Selections

Two NJAC Player of the Year Selections

One NJAC Defensive Player of the Year Selection

Fourth NJAC Rookie of the Year Selections

48 All-NJAC Selections

One Academic All-American Selection

In 2024, the Cougars boasted four All-NJAC selections, including first team selection in Cayley Elena Morrison being named to the AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention.

Perkins guided the Cougars to their second straight season with at least 20 wins (21) in 2023. Cayley Elena Morrison became the seventh All-American in program history, along with being named an All-Region and All-NJAC selections. Morrison was named the NJAC Rookie of the Year along with All-Conference selections in Ashley Smith, Julia Vacca, and Aspen O'Brien. 

In 2022, Perkins guided the Cougars to 21 wins and their second straight ECAC Championship. Morgan Hall was named the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player, along with All-Tournament selections in Aubre Adams and Aspen O'Brien. Kean notched four All-NJAC selections, including Sian Seeger who was named NJAC Defensive Player of the Year and Anne Beckemeyer who earned All-American and All-Region honors. 

In the Fall of 2021, Perkins guided the Cougars to 18 wins and their first ECAC Championship since 2013. Anne Beckemeyer was named the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player, along with All-Tournament selections in Sedona Gaard, Morgan Hall and Ashley Smith. Beckemeyer was an All-NJAC selection with Kayla Thornton, who earned All-American and All-Region honors.

In the Spring of 2021, Perkins won four games in the COVID shortened season and made his ninth straight appearance in the NJAC Tournament. The Cougars had three All-NJAC selections in Kayla Thornton (First Team), Michelle Froehlich (Second Team) and Amanda DeLio (Honorable Mention). 

In 2019, Perkins won 26 games and made his eighth straight appearance in the NJAC tournament. Zoe Strozewski became the first two-time All-American in program history, while being named an All-Region selection and the NJAC Player of the Year. Strozewski was joined on the All-NJAC first team and the AVCA All-Region team by Jesse Larkin. Larkin shared her All-Conference selection with Brianna Calvano (Second Team) and Kortnee Nelson (Honorable Mention). Finally, Sedona Gaard was named the NJAC Rookie of the Year.     

In 2018, Perkins won his 200th career match and guided the Cougars to a second straight NJAC Championship, while making back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. In addition, Jesse Larkin and Zoe Strozewski were both named AVCA All-American and All-Region selections. Larkin and Strozewski were two of the five All-NJAC selections. 

Perkins had arguably his best season in 2017 with 28 wins, won his first NJAC Championship and earned an appearance in the NCAA Tournament (the school's first since 2001). Perkins earned his first NJAC Coach of the Year honor and had five All-NJAC selections, including the Player of the Year in Sara Ridgway. Ridgway went on to become the first All-American in program history. 

Prior to the 2018 season, Perkins became the first head coach in the Kean Athletic Department history to win a conference championship and make the NCAA tournament with two different programs.  

In 2016, Perkins amassed 21 wins as Jesse Larkin was named the NJAC Rookie of the Year and the Cougars made their fifth straight appearance in the postseason. 

Perkins led the Cougars to 21 victories and their fourth-straight postseason appearance in 2015. Brett Harper was named the NJAC Rookie of the Year and senior Lisa DeGroot eclipsed the Kean career record for digs during the season.

The 2013 Cougars won 24 matches and captured the 2013 ECAC Metro-Upstate Championship, the first postseason title for the program since 2001. In 2012, the Cougars posted a 28-11 record and won at least 20 matches for the second time in three years. They also advanced to the postseason for the first time in six years by qualifying for both the NJAC and ECAC Tournaments.

Perkins also coached the Kean men's team for its first three varsity seasons. He led the upstart program to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments and Skyline Conference titles. Perkins was named the Skyline Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2012. After that season, he handed off the reigns of the program to Charlie Ginex.

Perkins joined the Cougar staff in 2009 after a two-year stint as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Mississippi State University. While at Mississippi State, he was responsible for working with the outside hitters as well as strengthening the serving game. In 2007, Mississippi State had it's second best SEC record in school history.

Prior to arriving at Mississippi State, Perkins was the head coach at SUNY-Poly (The State University of New York Polytechnic Institute).  While at SUNY-Poly, Perkins restructured the women's program while also undertaking the task of developing a new varsity level men's program. 

In all, Perkins has over 18 years of coaching experience ranging from summer camps and club teams to working with USA Volleyball in training and evaluation.  He also established the High Performance Program for Upstate New York, and created the Great Nor'easter youth volleyball tournament in Albany, New York.  Perkins was also a student-athlete at Syracuse University and was a member of the men's volleyball club.

Perkins earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Syracuse University in 2000 and his master's degree in public administration from the University at Albany, Nelson A. Rockefeller School of Public Affairs in 2002.

He was a member of the NCAA Division III women’s volleyball committee from 2014-2017 and is a voter in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top-25 poll.